Care Assistant
Bluebird Care
£21.4k per year
Cunninghamhead
Full time, permanent
The Breakroom Take
- People enjoy this job
- Recommended by parents
- Respectful managers
- Proper training
About Bluebird Care
Bluebird Care is a care group. They offer specialist home care services.
Job description from Bluebird Care
At Bluebird Care, we place our Care Professionals at the heart of everything we do. As Scotland's leading home care provider, our reputation for excellence is built upon the dedication and compassion of our team. We're inviting experienced and empathetic individuals to join our Ayrshire team, setting new standards in home care.
Your Role as a Care Assistant:
In this rewarding position, you'll empower our customers to enjoy the comfort and familiarity of their own homes.
Your responsibilities will encompass:
• Personal Care: Assisting with bathing, dressing, and grooming, always upholding the dignity and respect of our customers.
• Medication Support: Ensuring timely administration of medications to maintain their health and well-being.
• Mobility Assistance: Providing safe support to help customers move confidently within their homes and communities.
• Meal Preparation: Crafting nutritious meals that cater to individual tastes and dietary needs.
• Household Tasks: Managing light cleaning, shopping, and errands to ensure a comfortable living environment.
NB you must have a full UK driving license to be considered for the role due to the nature of our work
Why Join Bluebird Care? We recognise that our team's well-being is paramount. By joining us, you'll enjoy:
• Company Pension Scheme: Secure your future with our comprehensive pension plan.
• Westfield Healthcare Medical Cash Plan: Receive reimbursements on various medical expenses.
• Employee Assistance Programme: Access confidential support for personal and professional matters.
• Holistic Services with Natalie Alexander: Benefit from initiatives that nurture both your physical and mental health.
• Paid Mileage: Compensation at 45p per business mile to cover travel expenses.
• Funded PVG Updates: We handle the costs of necessary background checks.
• Paid Training: Stay current with essential skills through compensated refresher courses and eLearning.
• Refer a Friend Bonuses: Earn up to £500 for introducing new talent to our team.
• Blue Light Card Discounts: Enjoy savings on high street and online purchases.
• Paid Holidays: Take the time you need to rest and rejuvenate.
• Enhanced Pay on Bank Holidays: Receive double pay as a token of our appreciation for your commitment during special occasions.
• Mobile Support: We will make a contribution towards your mobile data expenses.
• Complimentary Uniform: Wear our soon-to-be-rebranded attire with pride.
• Professional Development: Access funding opportunities for SVQ qualifications to advance your career.
Don't just take our word for it, here is what a longstanding member of staff said about her experience, "I joined Bluebird Care in 2022, drawn by their commitment to independence and continuity for customers. Starting as a care assistant, I embraced opportunities to grow, moving into recruitment and later becoming a supervisor. The unwavering support from management empowered me to take on new challenges and build my confidence. Bluebird Care values professional growth and encourages employees to follow their passion—whether in recruitment or frontline care. The friendships I've made and the encouragement I've received from the team have been invaluable. Joining Bluebird Care was the best decision I've ever made." At Bluebird Care, we celebrate the profound impact of care work and are committed to supporting our team's growth and well-being. If you're passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, we'd love to hear from you
Job insights from Breakroom
Care workers and assistants
Care workers and assistants help support people in their daily lives to live as independently as possible
What you’ll do as a care worker/assistant:
- Help with social or physical activities
- Household tasks, like cleaning and washing
- Support by preparing food, and providing help with eating and other tasks like bathing and getting dressed
- Check and monitor health and help with medication
Is it right for you?
This job may involve:
- Standing
- Heavy lifting
- Helping with personal care
- Physical activity
- Emotionally demanding duties
- Wearing a uniform
- Night work
- Long hours
- Anti-social hours
- Cleaning
- Working alone
What employees say
Pay
-
Good
-
Most people are paid a living wage
Do Bluebird Care pay care assistants enough to live on?
Most people are paid a living wage.
How we know this
73% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 30 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are £12.60 per hour, and £13.85 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Good
-
Most people are paid market rates
Do Bluebird Care pay care assistants market rates?
Most people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
88% of people are paid above average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 33 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Needs improving
-
Most people don’t get paid breaks
Do care assistants at Bluebird Care get paid breaks?
No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.
How we know this
91% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 47 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Needs improving
-
Most people don’t get sick pay
Do Bluebird Care pay care assistants sick pay?
No. Most people don’t get proper sick pay.
How we know this
97% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 32 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Okay
-
Some people do unpaid extra work
Do care assistants at Bluebird Care do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Sometimes. Some people do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
57% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid for.Based on data from 30 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
-
Needs improving
-
Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do care assistants get of their shift pattern at Bluebird Care?
Most people don’t get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.
How we know this
- 83% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
- 10% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
- 0% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
- 7% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.
Based on data from 30 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you get plenty of notice about when you’re working.
This makes it easy for you to plan the rest of life, as well as your finances, because you know how much you’ll be working and when.
Okay
-
Some people worry about their hours
Do care assistants at Bluebird Care worry about hours?
Some people worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
53% of people report they worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 30 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
Okay
-
Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do care assistants at Bluebird Care get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
37% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 49 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Okay
-
Can be hard to change shifts
How easy is it for care assistants at Bluebird Care to change shifts?
Some people find it hard to change shifts.
How we know this
62% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.Based on data from 42 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. It should be easy to change a shift if you need to, whether that’s in an emergency or for planning ahead.
Good
-
Easy to book holiday
How easy is it for care assistants to book a holiday at Bluebird Care?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
80% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 30 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Needs improving
-
Shifts get changed at short notice
Do Bluebird Care managers change care assistants shifts at short notice?
Most managers change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
68% of people say their manager changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 50 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
Okay
-
Some people find it hard to take sick leave
How easy is it for care assistants to take sick leave at Bluebird Care?
Some people find it hard to take sick leave.
How we know this
39% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 33 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Needs improving
-
People work a lot more hours than their contract
Do care assistants work the same number they are contracted for at Bluebird Care?
Most people work a lot more hours than their contact..
How we know this
88% of people report working 8 hours or more than their contract.Based on data from 43 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you should expect to work about the same number of hours that your contract guarantees you, most of the time.
It’s useful to pick up or drop a few shifts here and there, but if you often work a lot more hours every week than you’re contracted for, a good job should guarantee them.
This means you’re more likely to know when you’ll be working and how much you’ll earn in advance.
Good
-
Most parents say it’s good
Is working as care assistants at Bluebird Care good if you have caring responsibilities?
Most parents and carers say this is a good place to work.
How we know this
81% of people who care for a child or other relative report this is a good place to work.Based on data from 16 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
Whether it’s looking after children or caring for a relative, a good job should support your responsibilities outside of work.
Workplace
-
Good
-
Most people feel treated with respect
Do care assistants at Bluebird Care feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
82% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 49 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Okay
-
Only some people get proper breaks
Do care assistants at Bluebird Care get proper breaks?
Some people don’t get proper breaks.
How we know this
55% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 47 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Okay
-
Some people are stressed
Is it stressful for care assistants to work at Bluebird Care?
Some people feel stressed here.
How we know this
58% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 31 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Good
-
Most people enjoy their job
Do care assistants at Bluebird Care enjoy their jobs?
Most people enjoy their job.
How we know this
90% of people report they enjoy their job.Based on data from 48 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Okay
-
Only some people recommend their team
Do care assistants at Bluebird Care recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
48% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 33 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Good
-
Most people get enough training
Do care assistants get enough training when they start at Bluebird Care?
Most people got enough training when they started.
How we know this
75% of people report they got enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 32 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Okay
-
Only some people get support to progress
Are care assistants given support to progress at Bluebird Care?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 43% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 30 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Needs improving
-
Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do care assistants think Bluebird Care head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
70% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 30 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2024 and March 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
Okay
-
Only some people feel well informed by head office
Do care assistants feel well informed about how Bluebird Care is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
54% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 48 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What Bluebird Care employees say about their job
-
Best thing
The clients
Worst thing
Not getting paid travel time
Bad management
Bad rota systemSenior carer at Bluebird Care, February 2025
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Best thing
Feeling that my role realy does make a difference to people's quality of life is so satisfying, tgere is more to life than just earning your pay. I genuine love caring for our customers. Most of the time I work independently so if the job is done well it's down to me and I know I do my best at all times.
I love building the relationships with our lovely customersWorst thing
Time pressures on some calls are tight and some travel times can be tight too.
We can be short staffed particularly when covid is rife this means you are almost always being asked to do extra shifts which is great when you want them but it's a tiring job and you can feel very guilty saying no to extras. You have to look after your own health though and learn to say no sometimes, if you jeep saying yes they will keep asking for more having said that it realy doesn't go unnoticed when you do extrasEmployee at Bluebird Care, October 2022
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